Locomotive ash-pan



(No Model.)

E. M. FITZGERALD.

LOGOMOTIVE ASH PAN.

No. 446,608. Patented Peb. 17, 41891.

MTWR@ TTF@ .armar tribal EDMUND M. FITZGERALD, OF S'I. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

LOCOWOTIVE ASH# PAN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 446,608, dated February 1*?, 1891. Application filed September 15, 1890. Serial Nox 365,053. (No model.)

To all whom t may con/ecru;

Be it kn own that I, EDMUND M. FITZGERALD, of St. Louis, inthe State of Missouri, have in vented certain new and useful Improvements in Locomotive Ash-Pans, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

My invention relates to improvements in locomotive ash-pans; and it consists in the novel arrangement and combination of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, and designated in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of my invention. Fig. 2 is a cross-section of the same, taken on the line :r c of Fig. 1, showing a plan view of the bottom. Fig. 3 is a perspective view ofthe shaft and its connections. Fig. a is a cross-sectional View o1 one of the rotating plates detached. Fig. 5 is a detailed view of an antomaticcutotl used in the operation of washing the plates.

Referring to the,drawings, 1 represents the lire-box, having a series of grate-bars 2 secured thereimand my improved ash-pan 3, suspended at a suitable distance beneath said grate-bars.

4 represents a series of sheet-iron plates, which are mounted around stiffening-bars 5. Said plates are bent over said stiffening-bars, the bend being in the direction of the length of the plates. These plates are made of a single piece of sheet metal` as shown in Fig. 4, the metalbeing first bent over and around the stiffening-bar, so as to partially encircle it, and then being bent baclr'upon itself and over the top of the said bar, the edge of the upper layer thus formed bein g bent down and under the edge of the lower layer, as will be evident from an inspection of the said figure, and, as will also be seen therein, the stiifening-bar is near that edge of the plate that will be thrown up in emptying the contents of the ash-bars, thus decreasing the resistance to be overcome and increasing the effective leverage in so doing. Said stiffeningbars project a suitable distance beyond the ends of said plates, thereby forming a series of tenons 0r gudgeons 6, on which said plates are pivoted in the fire-box in suitable bearings, or in a frame, and said frame secured in said fire-box. The terminal portions of said plates are provided with a series of lugs 7, which lugs are provided with elongated recesses S and perforations 9. Both ends of said plates are similarly provided.

10 10 represent connecting-rods, which are loosely connected in recesses 8 by means of pins or rivets 11. Said connecting-rods pass through perforations 12 12, made in the ashpan, and are fastened to arms 13 13, secured slipped over shaft 14.4, and secured thereto by.

means of set-screws, or they may be Welded to said shaft, as shown in the drawings. Said arms are provided with perforations, and theinner proj ecting portions of said arms are loosely pivoted to connecting-rods 10 10 by means of bolts or rivets 21, and the outer projecting portions of said arms are loosely pivoted to operating-bars 22 22by means of bolts 23. Said bars 22 are provided With downwardlydnclined lips 24, the recesses of which are adapted to fit over catches 2d, which catches are secured to the upper surface of the bottom of the cab by-means of bolts 25.

Said operating-bars are also provided at theiry upper extremities with hand-grips 28, which are convenient to the opera-tor in manipulating said bars. Said operating-bars pass downwardly through elongated openings 27, made in the bottoni of the cab, and are connccted to the outer projecting portions of arms 13, as hereinbefore described.

When it is desired to operate the pan, the operator should grasp the hand-grips 2S, lift the operating-bar off of lips 24:, and press downward on said operating-bar- The downward motion of said bars throws the innerprojecting portions of arms 13 forward, and consequently the connecting-rods 10 10. The forward movement of said rod elevates plate 4, whereby the ashes and cinders are permitted to fall through between said plates.

30 represents an automatic washing'device ICO for cleaning the plates, which deviceoonsists of a steam or water pipe 31, 'connected to either the steam or waterspace of the boiler. Said pipe passes downward to a point below the grate-bars and then passes across the ashpan and parallel thereto, and terminates ina closed end. The horizontal portion of said pipe is provided with a series of perforations 32, through which the water passes and falls on the plates 4. The hydraulic pressure of the water throws it out of the perfor-ations in the steam-pipe in the form of jets, which strike the plates with sufficient force to clean them from the accumulation of ashes and oinders. rlhe vertical portion of said pipe has a valve 33 located in it ata suitable point below the grate-bars. Said valve has an arm 34 secured to it, and said arm is pivotally connected to back plate I by means of a bolt or rivet 35. Then the lplates are elevated in the operation of dumping, the lower end of armj is moved backward, by which movement the valve 33 is opened and the water and steamcollected in said pipes are permitted to pass downward. vIVhen theplates assume theiinnormal position,the valve is closed and the supply of water and steam is shut off.

Haviugfully described my invention, what I claim is-:

l. In a locomotive ash-pan having a series of `plates below the grate-bars of the fire-box, the'combination of stiffening-bars secured to the said plates near one edge thereof and having their ends contained in bearings in the said ash-box, a red connected to the said plates near .the said bar, a transverse shaft having an arm thereon, pivoted to the said connecting-bar and having an arm thereon pivoted'to the lower end of an operating-bar, a vertical operating-bar having a downwardlyextending` lip upon one of its sides, and a catch upon which the said lip is adapted to rest, as described. r 1 y 2. In a locomotive ash-pan having a series of plates below the grate-bars of the tire-box, the combination of stiffening-bars contained Within each of the said rplates near one edge thereof and having their ends contained in bearings in the ash-pan, each of the said plates consisting of a single piece of sheet metal bentaround and under lthe said bar and bent backward "uponaud 'over the said bar, the end of the upper layer being bent down and under theend of the lower layer, a rod connected to the said plates near the edge thereof opposite the said bar, a transverse shaft having an'arni thereon pivoted to the said connecting-bar and having an arm thereon pivoted to the lower end of an operating-bar, a vertical operating-bar having downwardly-extending lips upon one of its sides, and a catch upon which one of the said lips is adapted to rest, as described.

3. In a locomotive ash-pan having a series of hinged plates below the grate-bars of the dre-box, a perforated pipe connected with the boiler, a valve in the said pipe, a projection upon one of the said hinged plates, an arm having its one end rigidly connected with the said valve and its opposite end slotted, the slot therein sliding upon the projection upon the plate, and means for moving the said plates, as described.

4. In a locomotive ash-pan having a series of plates below the grate-bars of the fire-box, the combination of stiffening-bars secured to the said platesnear one edge thereof and having their ends contained in bearings in the lsaid ash-box, a perforated pipe connected with the boiler, a valve in the said pipe, a projection upon one of the said hinged plates, an arm having its one endfrigidly connecting with the said valve and its opposite end slotted, the slot therein sliding upon the projecf tion upon the plate7 means for moving the said plates, as rods connected to the said plates near the edge thereof opposite the said bar, a transverse shaft having an arm thereon pivoted to the said connecting-bar and having an arm thereon pivoted to the lower end of an operating-bar, a verticaloperatingbar having downwardly-extending lips upon one of its sides, and a catch upon which the said lips are adapted to rest, as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence oftwo witnesses.

EDMUND M. FITZGERALD. Witnesses:

C. F. A. MUELLER, E. E. LONGAN. 

